Who this site is for
Parents who want clear answers to common reading worries—without panic or jargon.
How to use these pages
Open the guide that matches the worry you see at home.
Read the plain answer first, then try one or two of the home tips.
For a personalized next step, take the free Read Like Rocky assessment.
Start here
Your child is reading a page about a horse. The word is house, but they say "horse." Or they glance at the picture of a puppy and say "dog" when the word is…
Most children read slowly because they are still sounding out many words one at a time, so their brain has to work hard on each word before it can move on…
Many children can say the words on a page without understanding them because sounding out still takes most of their attention, or because they don't yet…
A child who seems "behind" in reading often needs a clearer picture of specific skills—like sounding out words, reading smoothly, or understanding what they…
You hand your child a book and say, "Read this page to me." Suddenly they need a drink of water. Or a snack. Or they slump on the couch and say, "I can't,"…
Most young children reverse letters like b and d because those letters are mirror images of each other, and a child's brain is still learning that, unlike a…
From Dr. Nancy Barker, Ed.D.
These free pages are built by the team behind Read Like Rocky. Dr. Nancy has spent 49 years in education, specializing in deaf and hard-of-hearing teaching. She earned her Ed.D. from Pepperdine University in 2011 and previously mentored teachers as a school leader.
Take the free reading assessment from Read Like Rocky — it takes a few minutes and points you to a clear next step.
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The activities here are general reading practice for families. They are not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. If you have concerns about a learning difference, vision, hearing, speech, attention, or anxiety, please talk with your pediatrician or a school specialist.